Carton



April 25, 1950 M. THOMAS cARToN Fired oct. '22. 1947 .alim

. UNITED STAT rienda Apr. 2s, leso poration of Wisconsin Application october z2, V1947, serial No. 'u

s claim.. (ci. zzassi 1 l This invention relates to a collapsible carton made preferably from a single blank of cardboard and the like. More specifically the invention relates to a carton comprising a tray or receptacle portion provided with means for retaining and rigidifying same in set-up position.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the inside surface of the blank from which the carton is formed;

Figure@ is a perspective view of the set-up carton formed from the blank shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a fragmental, perspective view illustrating in detail the manner in which the carton is locked and maintained in its upright position; and K Figure-4 is a vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention,

there is shown in the accompanying drawings a form thereof which is at present preferred, since the same has been found in practice to give sat- Referring to the drawings, the carton is made;

from an integral blank of paper, cardboard or the like, suitably cut and scored as illustrated in Figure 1 to provide a foldable tray portion, indicated generally by the numeral 9, comprising a bottom wall I0, a front wall II, a rear wall I2 land side walls I3 hingedly connected to each other by score lines I4 and I5. The bottom wall is provided with three spaced ridges 31, 38 and 33 at opposite sides for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. It will also be noted that score lines I5 are interrupted for a short length at I6 for a purpose to be explained later. Side walls I3 are provided with integrally hinged flaps I1 which are glued to the rear wall I2 at the areas I1. The side walls I3 are also provided with diagonal intersecting score lines I8 and I3 to permit collapsing of the tray portion 3 into flat folded position and to provide triangular glue segments 20. The front wall II is provided with retaining flaps 2| vportions of which are adapted n to be overlapped and glued to the triangular glue i the lower edge portions22 are frictionally en- Es I PATENT oFFlcr-:

Manville Thomas, Wausau, Wis., signor Marathon Corporation, Rothschild.' Wis., a cel'- oiii:

i SEP 5 195o gaged in the wells 35 which automatically form when the carton is set up 'as will be explained hereinafter. The tray portion 3 will be retained and rigidifled in its fully set up condition for receiving goods to be packaged therein.

The front wall II of the tray portion 9 is provided at its upper edge with an externally folded locking nap 23 integrally hinged to the front wall, as illustrated in Figures l, 2 and 3. The ilap 23 is preferably hinged to the wall II along a score line 24 at the upper edge of the wall il so that `when the ap 23 is bent back it has a tendency to spring outwardly. The locking ilap 23 is cut to provide diagonally disposed edges 23'. The locking iiap 23 is adapted to engage and lock with coacting portions on a. hinged cover portion, indicated generally by the numeral 25 in Figure 2.

The cover portion 25 which is hinged to the tray portion 3 by a score line 26, comprises a top wall 21, side walls 23 and a front wall 29, hingedly connected by score lines 3l and 3i. The side walls 28 are provided with integrally hinged naps 32 which are adhered to the areas 32' of the front wall 23 of the cover. Also, the side walls 28 are each provided with a diagonal score line 28' which permits collapsing the cover 25 to flat condition. The naps 32 are recessed or cut along lines 33 and 34 to provide a substantially L-shaped recessedportion which is adapted for receiving and retaining mating portions of the locking flap 23 in snug engagement. The abutment edges 33 and 34 are arranged so as to abut -with and engage the adjacent free abutment edge sition, the tendency of the flap 23 tospring outwardly on its hinge line insures positive engagement and locking of the ends 23' of the ap 23 with the recessed portions provided in the front wall 23 of the cover. This construction insures retention and locking of the cover portion when it is placed in the closed position.

When goods are placed in the tray portion 3 of the set-up carton shown in Figure 2 and the cover 25 is closed, a distinct click can be heard when the cover is fully closed as the ends 23 of the locking ap 23 snap into the recessed portions 33, 34 of naps 32 and thus securely lock together. The cover will not open unless considerable force is applied to it upon which the locking ap 23 will hinge upwardly and thus release its locking function without. however, tearing or rupturing any parts of the carton, as the walls of the carton are sumciently flexible. The cover 25 can be readily reclosed and locked in closed position as often as may be desired.

. 1.a n n n n The locking construction herein disclosed serves to retain the cover in locked position when the lled with goods cartons are handled. Furthermore, when the filled cartons are to be wrapped in an outer wrapper by automatic machinery the cover will not spring open during the wrapping operations. The carton is thus particularly adapted for making packages which are required to be completely wrapped with an outer protective wrapper as for example in the case of packaging frozen foods and the like.

To assure that the walls of the tray portion 9 are rigidly retained in their fully set-up position preparatory to lling with a commodity and will not collapse or fold back once they are set up, deep depressions or wells 35 (see Figure 3) are automatically formedwhen the tray portion is set up for cooperative engagement with the bottom edges or extreme tip portions 22 of the retaining aps 2 I. As previously stated, the score lines I5, which connect bottom wall I with end walls I3, are interrupted or omitted at selected areas I6 for a relatively short length. This is accomplished by eliminating a section of the scoring blade on the usual Miehle press. When the tray portion is squared up or set up, a crease 88 is automatically formed in each side wall I3 which connects the interrupted ends of the score line I5, as shown in Figure 3, and the ends oi" ridges 31 are connected automatically at the same time with the interrupted ends of score lines I by extending creases which form when the carton is set up. The :dbers of the carton board also simultaneously tend to pile up so as to raise ridge 3l slightly higher from its previous normal height as Well as higher than ridges 38 and 38'. At the same time the area It of the carton is depressed below the plane of the bottom wall I@ so as to form a relatively deep well 35 in which the tip portions 22 of the retaining ap 2i slide and are rmly and frictionally engaged. These results are best obtained when the carton is run through the press with the grain or direction of fiber disposition of the carton blank is along the line designated A-A as shown in Figure 1. Embossed ridges ,38 and 38' in the bottom wall I0 immediately adjacent each well IS serve as auxiliary or safety catches to engage the tip portions 22 in event they should accidentally slip out of depressions 35. The embossed ridges il?, 38 and 38' are each disposed at an acute angle with respect to its adjacent score line I5. When the carton is set-up the tip portions 22 of the Beers-style aps 2Isna1p into the wells I6 and thus maintain the carton in a substantially rigid, locked condition. In the event a ap 2l disengages itself from a well 35, the auxiliary embossedridge or ridges 38 and 38' will catch the bottom edge 22 of the ap 2I and prevent further movement of the ap and hence collapse of the carton.

The carton construction described possesses sired that the present preferred embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the aforegoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A collapsible carton formed from an integral blank comprising bottom, front and rear walls, side walls connected to said bottom wall by scored lines interrupted at selected areas, a glue flap hingedly connected to each side wall and adhered to said rear wall, a retaining flap hingedly connected to each end of said front wall, diagonally disposed crease lines intersecting each end of said side walls, said crease lines radiating from each corner of said bottom wall and forming triangular segments, portions of said retaining flaps overlapped and adhered to the inner faces of adjacent triangular segments to thereby provide free, unadhered, retaining flap portions, the lower edges of which are slideable over Asaid bottom wall, a ridge formed in said bottom wall adjacent each of said selected areas extending above the plane of the bottom wall and substantially parallel to the side walls and spaced therefrom whereby a well is formed for retaining the lower edges oi said free, unadhered, retaining ap portions.

` 2. A collapsible carton formed from an integral blank comprising bottom, front and rear walls, side walls connected to said bottom wall by scored lines interrupted at selected areas, av glue iap hingedly connected to each side wall and adhered to said rear wall, a retaining ilap hingedly connected to each end of said front wall, diagonally disposed crease lines intersecting each end of said side walls, said crease lines radiating from each corner of said bottom wall and forming triangular segments, portions of said retaining aps overlapping and adhered to the inner faces of adjacent triangular segments to thereby provide free, unadhered, retaining flap portions, the lower edges of which are slideable over said bottom wall, a ridge formed in said bottom wall adjacent each of said selected areas and substantially parallel to the side walls and spaced therefrom connecting with said interrupted score lines, and a crease in the side walls connecting said int-errupted scored lines adjacent said selected areas whereby a well is formed for retaining the lower edges of said free, unadhered, retaining ap portions.

3. A collapsible carton formed from an integral blank of paper, cardboard or the like comprising bottom, front and rear walls, side walls connected to said bottom wall by scored lines interrupted ai selected areas, said scored lines being at right angles with respect to the grain of ksaid blank, a glue ap hingedly connected to each side wall and adhered to said rear wall, a retaining flap hingedly connected to each end of said front wall,

f diagonally disposed crease lines intersecting each improved characteristics resulting from the retention of the Beers-type flaps within the engaging wells to thereby maintain the tray in rigid, set-up condition in combination with the locking cover for such rigidied, set-up tray.

While the preferred embodiment heretofore described relates to cartons comprising a tray and cover portion integrally hinged thereto, it is understood that the cover portion may be omitted or a separable cover may be used.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. it is deend of said side walls and forming triangular segments, portions 'of said retaining flaps overlapped and adhered to the inner faces of adjacent triangular segments to thereby provide free, unadhered, retaining flap portions, the lower edges of whichare slideable over said bottom wall, wells disposed in said bottom wall at said selected areas for retaining the lower edges of said free, unadhered, retaining flap portions, a ridge in said bottom Wall adjacent each Well and a pair of spaced embossed auxiliary ridges positioned at an acute angle with respect to each side wall spaced from each of said ridges.

4. A collapsible carton formed from an integral blank of paper, cardboard or the like comprising bottom, front and rear walls, side walls connected to said bottom wall by scored lines interrupted at selected areas, said scored lines being at right angles with respect to the grain of said blank, a glue ilap hingedly connected to each' side wall and adhered to said rear wall. a' retaining ilap hingedly connected to each end of said front wall, diagonally disposed crease lines intersecting each end oi' said side walls, said crease lines radiating from each corner oi said bottom wall and i'orming triangular segments, portions of said retaining aps overlapped and adhered to the inner faces of adjacent triangular segments to thereby provide free. unadhered, retaining ilap portions, the lower edges of which are slideable over said bottom wall, wells disposed in said bottom wall at said selected areas for retaining the lower edges of said free, unadhered, retaining flap portions. a ridge formed in said bottom wall adjacent each well, a crease in each side wall adjacent each well connecting said interrupted score lines and a plurality of parallel, spaced, embossed ridges positioned at an acute angle with respect to each side wall, said embossed ridges being spaced from said formed ridges.

5. An integral blank of paper, cardboard or the like for forming a collapsible carton comprising bottom, front and rear walls, side walls connected to said bottom wall by scored lines interrupted at selected lengths, said scored lines being positioned at right angles with respect to the grain'of said blank, a glue ilaphingedly connected to each side v wall and adhered to said rear wall. a retaining iiaphlngedlyconnectedtoeachendoisaidtront wall. diagonally disposed crease lines intersecting each end of said side walls, said crease lines radiating from each corner of said bottom wall and forming triangular segments, portions of said retaining ilaps overlapped and adhered to the inner faces of adjacent triangular segments to thereby provide free, unadhered, retaining flap portions, the lower edges ot which are slideable over said bottom wall, wells formed automatically in said bottom wall at said selected areas when the carton is set up for retaining the lower edges of said free, unadhered, retaining ap portions, a ridge in said bottom walladjacent each well connecting with the interrupted ends of the said score l line connecting the said bottom and side walls and an embossed ridge positioned at an acute angle with respect to each side wall spaced from leach of said rst mentioned ridges.

MAN'VILLE THOMAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Mar. 22, 1926 

